A drink-driver fled after smashing into a garden wall leaving his partner injured in the front seat.

Minutes earlier father of two Andrew Sharples, 25, had gone through a red light at 60mph and been swerving all over the road in a 'borrowed' car.

After crashing and fleeing the scene, Sharples' partner, who is the mother of his two children, was treated by an ambulance crew for minor injuries.

He was arrested and he tested positive for cocaine but a judge spared sending him straight to prison.

Sharples told police: "I only did it because I am drunk. I have had a couple of whiskeys."

Manchester magistrates heard he was twice the limit and District Judge Wendy Lloyd said: "You had your wits about you enough to leave your partner and I'm surprised you were not charged with more serious offences."

Sharples, of Whitecar Avenue, New Moston, was sentenced to four months imprisonment suspended for a year, 200 hours unpaid work and £85 costs.

He pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, no licence or insurance and failing to stop for the police.

Banning him for two years the judge said: "I have to protect the public and the roads will be a lot safer without you.

"The facts are stark and you came close to going immediately to jail."

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said Sharples was followed after he drove out of a petrol station and nearly hit another car at 3.30 in the morning.

He ignored a police request to stop and hit speeds of 60mph in 30mph areas before losing control and demolishing a wall and BT junction box on Nuthurst Road, Moston.

Miss Kenyon said he ran off but was detained after plunging 10 feet down an embankment.

Tim McArdle, defending, said Sharples, who had a conviction for being concerned in the supply of drugs, was hardworking when he wasn't getting into trouble.

"It was one error of judgement after another and he hadn't used cocaine for a long time", added Mr McArdle.